(04-14-2017, 09:24 AM)Beaker Wrote: Too bad his franchise couldn't have died with him.

(04-14-2017, 09:11 AM)Whatever Wrote: To be fair, whenever the Bengals release a longtime star that's past his prime, the fanbase goes on suicide watch.  Take Willie Anderson, for example.

The argument can also be made that he held onto Chuck Noll for too long.  People would say the same thing about Cowher if he hadn't pulled off the SB in '05.

(04-14-2017, 10:59 AM)Gamma Ray Tan Wrote: Does anyone else find it concerning that Roger Goodell stated that, "He talked to Dan Rooney every day for over 20 years" and "Dan Rooney was a mentor to him." I'm not a conspiracy theory guy, but should one NFL team owner have that much sway/influence with the Commissioner of the league? Do you think Mike Brown talked with Goodell every day? I'd be surprised if Mike talked with him once a year. Regardless.....Rooney knew how to win and run a franchise. If only we were so lucky.

(04-14-2017, 10:21 AM)bengals67 Wrote: I am 100% convinced that Mike Brown is a good and honorable man.

I am 100% convinced that Rooney was in a different universe than Mike measured by who is the better owner.

Steelers demand excellence on the field and there are consequences when a player or coach does not fulfill that standard

We keep a coach for 15 years with no playoff wins, who usually loses in prime time, and who generally loses to our main rival twice a year.

Marvin would have been fired by Rooney 10 years ago .

(04-14-2017, 10:59 AM)Gamma Ray Tan Wrote: Does anyone else find it concerning that Roger Goodell stated that, "He talked to Dan Rooney every day for over 20 years" and "Dan Rooney was a mentor to him." I'm not a conspiracy theory guy, but should one NFL team owner have that much sway/influence with the Commissioner of the league? Do you think Mike Brown talked with Goodell every day? I'd be surprised if Mike talked with him once a year. Regardless.....Rooney knew how to win and run a franchise. If only we were so lucky.

(04-14-2017, 11:02 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Take Willie Anderson as the only example. Not counting players whose contracts had expired and wound up signing for big money elsewhere - I can't think of any legendary Bengals that were cut once they started slipping. Mike must have been in a weird mood. Cutting both Willie and Rudi (9 years ago) was very uncharacteristic for him. 

As for Noll and Cowher...He kept a couple coaches that combined for 28 playoff wins and 5 championships. Even before Cowher's championship run, he had 8 playoff wins and a SB appearance. If Mike Brown kept guys like that "too long" I'd be just fine with it. Instead he holds on to guys like Shula, Coslet and Marvin Lewis.

(04-14-2017, 01:07 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I was listening to Farrell on the Bench on the drive home tonight, and he was discussing the death of Dan Rooney with a guest from Pittsburgh area media. The one thing that instantly stood out from the whole conversation was when the guest mentioned that Rooney once fired his own brother and cut Franco Harris...a Steelers legend. The guest said that while Rooney was a great man to everyone he met, it was understood that winning always came first.

When I heard that, I couldn't help but think of how that contrasts with Mike Brown and his extreme loyalty...even in cases where that loyalty is obviously hindering our ability to win. I think Rooney also showed that you can be a good man to those around you while also having standards for the organization that must be adhered to. I doubt any former coach or player would say a bad thing about Rooney...even those he let go.

It's just unfortunate that Mike Brown can't see this, because there's little doubt in my mind that Mike Brown's extreme loyalty has been the biggest problem for this team since he took over the reigns.

(04-14-2017, 01:07 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I was listening to Farrell on the Bench on the drive home tonight, and he was discussing the death of Dan Rooney with a guest from Pittsburgh area media. The one thing that instantly stood out from the whole conversation was when the guest mentioned that Rooney once fired his own brother and cut Franco Harris...a Steelers legend. The guest said that while Rooney was a great man to everyone he met, it was understood that winning always came first.

When I heard that, I couldn't help but think of how that contrasts with Mike Brown and his extreme loyalty...even in cases where that loyalty is obviously hindering our ability to win. I think Rooney also showed that you can be a good man to those around you while also having standards for the organization that must be adhered to. I doubt any former coach or player would say a bad thing about Rooney...even those he let go.

It's just unfortunate that Mike Brown can't see this, because there's little doubt in my mind that Mike Brown's extreme loyalty has been the biggest problem for this team since he took over the reigns.

(04-14-2017, 09:11 AM)Whatever Wrote: To be fair, whenever the Bengals release a longtime star that's past his prime, the fanbase goes on suicide watch.  Take Willie Anderson, for example.

The argument can also be made that he held onto Chuck Noll for too long.  People would say the same thing about Cowher if he hadn't pulled off the SB in '05.

(04-14-2017, 01:07 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I was listening to Farrell on the Bench on the drive home tonight, and he was discussing the death of Dan Rooney with a guest from Pittsburgh area media. The one thing that instantly stood out from the whole conversation was when the guest mentioned that Rooney once fired his own brother and cut Franco Harris...a Steelers legend. The guest said that while Rooney was a great man to everyone he met, it was understood that winning always came first.

When I heard that, I couldn't help but think of how that contrasts with Mike Brown and his extreme loyalty...even in cases where that loyalty is obviously hindering our ability to win. I think Rooney also showed that you can be a good man to those around you while also having standards for the organization that must be adhered to. I doubt any former coach or player would say a bad thing about Rooney...even those he let go.

It's just unfortunate that Mike Brown can't see this, because there's little doubt in my mind that Mike Brown's extreme loyalty has been the biggest problem for this team since he took over the reigns.